Surry schools will limit bus routes

Surry County Schools will operate limited bus routes after the first two weeks of school because of gas prices, something that has pushed administrators to look closer at the miles driven to pick up some ...

[Wolf Lady]

I think this is ridiculous! I know gas prices are rising, but there are other ways to balance the budget. I am sure one can find ways that money can be allocated without having to make it harder on the parents. We are the ones who pay tax money and support the schools. I know the bus route my child is on has always taken the LONG way to get to school. My child has been on the bus an hour and half in the mornings and the afternoon, but we live only 7 minutes from school. I don't know who decides anything about the routes, but my guess is that they need to learn how to be MORE efficient.

[talking points]

Maybe you should find the hell out before bitching?

It is your child - don't wait for government to take care of it.

[talking points]

Oh yea, what ways should the budget be balanced?

You looked at the the audits? I bet not! hmmm Problems, no solutions - someone else is supposed to take care of it yes?

[Only Showbiz]

talking points wrote:

Oh yea, what ways should the budget be balanced?
You looked at the the audits? I bet not! hmmm Problems, no solutions - someone else is supposed to take care of it yes?

I don't expect anybody to take care of anything for me. I do expect for those who use my hard earned tax money to use it correctly. We pay for the transportation already. I am entitled to an opinion just as you are. I just don't go overboard with my criticism. I didn't say anything about audits. I am talking about them not having enough money for gas. It is like any other household budget. You learn to be more efficient. I don't think Surry County Schools know anything about being efficient. I bet you have no idea how much money they pay administrators? I'm sure they could come up with other ways without having to make it harder on the parents. You speak exactly like someone educated in this fine institution you call a public school here in Surry County!

[Working on it]

Only Showbiz wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't expect anybody to take care of anything for me. I do expect for those who use my hard earned tax money to use it correctly. We pay for the transportation already. I am entitled to an opinion just as you are. I just don't go overboard with my criticism. I didn't say anything about audits. I am talking about them not having enough money for gas. It is like any other household budget. You learn to be more efficient. I don't think Surry County Schools know anything about being efficient. I bet you have no idea how much money they pay administrators? I'm sure they could come up with other ways without having to make it harder on the parents. You speak exactly like someone educated in this fine institution you call a public school here in Surry County!

I spoke with Mr Hardy "Head of Transportation for Surry County Schools" yesterday. He advised me that the "Surry County School Board" voted and approved to use the limited bus routes. This Action regarding the limited bus routes is from an old bill approved by the State of NC many years ago. He also said that it also would affect Mt Airy City Schools and many surrounding Counties. You can bet that I am going to research this bill and see who sponsored it so I can help try to vote them out of office if they still have a seat in the NC House of representatives. I plan on working on this as I can this weekend and also will try to make contact with all House and Senate Reps at State and Federal levels. The schools do not pay state tax for fuel and we do. This is one of the points they are trying to make. Also safety for our children first. When I advised Mr Hardy that I would hold the Board of Education responsible for my daughters safety until she got home from school, he advised me "that their responsibility ends 10 feet from the bus".
I'm not saying we can stop it currently but if enough of us work and try we might be able to get this decision reversed.

[Only Showbiz]

Working on it wrote:

<quoted text>I spoke with Mr Hardy "Head of Transportation for Surry County Schools" yesterday. He advised me that the "Surry County School Board" voted and approved to use the limited bus routes. This Action regarding the limited bus routes is from an old bill approved by the State of NC many years ago. He also said that it also would affect Mt Airy City Schools and many surrounding Counties. You can bet that I am going to research this bill and see who sponsored it so I can help try to vote them out of office if they still have a seat in the NC House of representatives. I plan on working on this as I can this weekend and also will try to make contact with all House and Senate Reps at State and Federal levels. The schools do not pay state tax for fuel and we do. This is one of the points they are trying to make. Also safety for our children first. When I advised Mr Hardy that I would hold the Board of Education responsible for my daughters safety until she got home from school, he advised me "that their responsibility ends 10 feet from the bus".
I'm not saying we can stop it currently but if enough of us work and try we might be able to get this decision reversed.

I'll be there to help. Just let me know what you need me to do. I'll talk to my sister also. She will probably be one of the ones affected by this. She said what makes her mad is that there are so many in this county who are laid off from their jobs and may not have the gas money themselves. Why should they have to provide for something that has already been paid for once by our taxes? A remark that one's responsibility ends 10 feet from the buses goes to shows how much they really care about our kids. I'm sure he is talking about "legal" responsibility, but what does that say for "moral" responsibility?

[wolf Lady]

Here is the address to site that talks abouta bill that I think Mr. Hardy was talking about.

http://sbepolicy.dpi.state.nc.us/policies/EEO...

[wolf Lady]

Actually it mentions the bill in the outline of their policy. Here is another one:

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/enactedlegislatio...

[BARBARA]

A lot of people do not know that they took away the insurance and benfits of the bus drivers and monitors on the ec buses.

[BARBARA]

A lot of people do not know that they took away the insurance and benfits of the EC Bus drivers and Monitors .

[BARBARA]

A lot of people do not know that they took away the insurance and benfits on the EC bus drivers and Monitors.

[Lee Anne]

That is so unfair. I wish we could do something to change it. You will probably never get it bak either.

BARBARA wrote:

A lot of people do not know that they took away the insurance and benfits of the bus drivers and monitors on the ec buses.

[schoolmom60]

some county school districts have adopted if you are in a rural area and basically the only one out there the school district will pay you to drive your child back and forth to school both win that way the county saves enough of a % and you get enough to cover your expense.

One QUESTION I would like to bring up some middle schools and HS students ride the same bus. I would like to know the number of incidents that happen on these buses a 11th or 12th grader typically are a lot bigger then a 6th or 7th grader and the main job of the bus driver is to pay attention to the road to get our kids safe from one place to another.
The school board could and should have either parents/volunteers ride on the trouble buses to make sure this does not happen. Or, a senior and allow gas money, extra credit diver could sign a sheet showing she/he was there. What do you think?